Pitch-regulating device for ocarinas.



F. D. SMENNER. PITCH REGULATING DEVICE FOR OOARINAS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.21, 1912.

1,1 06,249. Patented Aug. 4, 1914 THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTDN, D. c.

FREDERICK D. SMENNER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

PITCH-REGULATING DEVICE FOR OCARINAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed August 21, 1912. Serial No. 716,250.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK D. SMEN TNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Vayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pitch-Regulating Devices for ()carinas, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to music, particularly to musical. mouth instruments and has for an object to provide a device for regulating the pitch of the instrument.

The invention embodies, among other features,a device particularly adaptable for use ir. connection with mouth instruments known as ocarinas and in the use of which it is necessary to open or close a vent in order to change the pitch of the instrument. To accomplish this result use is made of an apertured casing fitted over a vent of the instrument and having a member arranged to slide therein to close the openings in the casing, with means for adjusting the member in the easing in order that the vent may be increased or decreased for the purpose of adjusting the pitch of the instrument in connection with the pitch of some other instrument which may be played in combination or in harmony with the Ocarina.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to the acccompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the instrument; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of the pitch regulating device at one end of the instrument; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the member for closing the vent.

Referring more particularly to the views, I disclose a body 10 constituting any well known type of musical instrument, the said body at the larger end thereof being provided with an opening constituting a vent 11, a casing 12 being mounted on the body 10 to inclose the vent 11, the said casing being provided with a series of elongated openings 13, as shown. Swiveled on the casing 12 is an adjusting screw 14 having the threaded shank 15 thereof extending within the casing 12 and a member 16 has threaded connection with the shank 15, the said member being sufiiciently large to close the elongated openings 13 in the casing 12 when the member is screwed down by means of the adjusting screw 14.

It will. now be readily seen that by operating the screw 14, the member 16 can be advanced or retracted in the casing 12 to cover or uncover the elongated openings 13 there in, it being also seen that the openings can be partially uncovered, whereas when the member 16 is screwed down to the lowermost position in the casing 12, the opening con stituting the vent 11 will be closed, it be ing further noted that the mentioned adjustment of the member 16 within the casing 12 provides for the regulation of the pitch of the instrument. In order to prevent the member 16 from turning or rotating in the casing 12, guides 17 are struck from or formed with the member 16 to extend through a plurality of the elongated openings 13 in the casing, thus preventing any rotation of the member within the casmg.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A body of the character described having a vent-opening, an apertured casing on the body and encircling the vent-opening, and means movable within the casing to cover or uncover the apertures therein.

2. A body of the character described having a vent-opening, a casing on the body and covering the vent-opening, the said casing being provided with a series of apertures, a member slidable longitudinally within the casing to cover or uncover the apertures therein, and an adjusting screw carried by the casing and having connection with the member for advancing or retracting the same within the casing.

3. A body of the character described having a vent opening, a casing 0n the body and covering the vent opening, the said casing being provided with a series of a ertures, a member slidable longitudinally within the casing to cover or uncover the apertures therein, an adjusting screw carried by the casing and having connection With the mem- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature her for advanolng 0r retraetlng the same 1n presence of two wltnesses.

Within the casing and means carried by the 7 member and engaging the casing for pre- FREDERICK SMENNER" venting rotation of the member relatively to Witnesses: the casmg when the said adJnstmg screw CAREY W. KnLLIsoN, 1s actuated. HOWARD HAUTHORN.

fiopiel of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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